Task force to rebuild tornado's damage

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

Friday

May 27, 2011 at 12:01 AM

TUSCALOOSA | The nearly 50 members of the Rebuild Tuscaloosa Task Force on Thursday learned the full scope of the work in front of them.The task force must develop a comprehensive restoration and rebuilding plan for about 10 percent of the city of Tuscaloosa.And do so within five weeks.The timetable for such an important task was questioned by more than one of the group assembled in the council chambers of Tuscaloosa City Hall.Jonathan McLelland, the name behind McLelland Architecture on Alaca Place, said that under normal circumstances it would take between six and nine months to fashion a plan for building styles, land use, infrastructure and housing — not to mention priming the economic engine to pay for it all.“The most important thing is we get it right,” said McLelland, a member of the task force's Building Design/Architecture subcommittee.Task Force Chairman John McConnell, who also serves as director of the city's Department of Planning and Development Services, said he understood that concern.But, McConnell said, the residents, business owners and employees who were affected by the April 27 tornado can't wait that long.“There is some sense of urgency,” McConnell said. “I think we'd serve the city best to move as efficiently as possible.”The task force was created by a mayoral executive order just days after the EF-4 tornado cut a 5.9-mile gash across the heart of Tuscaloosa.Assembled by McConnell, the task force has been divided into two main classes — a core work group and a steering committee — that will work together to craft the zoning rules, regulations and master plans that will shape the future of the Tuscaloosa.The core work group was described by McConnell as the “work horse” of the task force and is made up of architects, developers, city officials and others. It has been divided into further sub-categories. The smaller groups and their tasks are:

Short-term recovery team: Explore options for speeding up the licensing, inspection and permitting processes while searching for ways to better inform the public about the new procedures.

Long-term planning team: Assist with a professional planning consultant who is expected to be hired at Tuesday's City Council meeting to develop long-term planning recommendations for infrastructure, land use, building design, architecture, housing and parks and public spaces.

Infrastructure subcommittee: Assess the current conditions of streets, sidewalks, streetscaping and utilities while focusing on traffic movement and congestion. The subcommittee also will explore the stability of current water and sewer infrastructure in anticipation of future construction operations and make recommendations for improving the landscape within public rights-of-way.

Land use subcommittee: Make recommendations regarding land use in the wake of the storm and suggests on new policies regarding planning, zoning, subdivisions and neighborhood preservation.

Building design/architecture subcommittee: Examine the existing and destroyed commercial and residential buildings and look for new and modern methods of construction, materials and sustainable design.

Housing subcommittee: Take stock of the housing losses and evaluate the future needs for student housing, neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing.

Parks and public spaces subcommittee: Consider options related to new parks and open spaces as well as new options for pedestrian corridors and bicycle paths. Committee also asked to consider alternative uses for public spaces, such as community gardens and recreational facilities.

Economics, finance and legal team: The purpose of this group is to examine the recommendations of the other committees within the Core Work Group and propose funding sources, economic incentives and legal advice.

Web communications and marketing team: This group is tasked with finding accessible and efficient ways to communicate the findings of the Rebuild Tuscaloosa Task Force, including the creation of a website where residents can contribute feedback and ideas as well as stay abreast of the task force's progress.The purpose of the steering committee, which is not subdivided, is to act as the “rudder” and “guiding light” for the task force by reviewing and offering feedback on the recommendations of the core work group with the intention of creating a working, feasible master plan for the affected areas of Tuscaloosa.The task force likely will meet again on June 2, and McConnell asked that each member come to the meeting with “something to bring to the table.”“We should not just rebuild,” McConnell said. “We have a chance to do this. There's no reason to maintain the status quo.“Let's do it better.”

TUSCALOOSA | The nearly 50 members of the Rebuild Tuscaloosa Task Force on Thursday learned the full scope of the work in front of them.The task force must develop a comprehensive restoration and rebuilding plan for about 10 percent of the city of Tuscaloosa.And do so within five weeks.The timetable for such an important task was questioned by more than one of the group assembled in the council chambers of Tuscaloosa City Hall.Jonathan McLelland, the name behind McLelland Architecture on Alaca Place, said that under normal circumstances it would take between six and nine months to fashion a plan for building styles, land use, infrastructure and housing — not to mention priming the economic engine to pay for it all.“The most important thing is we get it right,” said McLelland, a member of the task force's Building Design/Architecture subcommittee.Task Force Chairman John McConnell, who also serves as director of the city's Department of Planning and Development Services, said he understood that concern.But, McConnell said, the residents, business owners and employees who were affected by the April 27 tornado can't wait that long.“There is some sense of urgency,” McConnell said. “I think we'd serve the city best to move as efficiently as possible.”The task force was created by a mayoral executive order just days after the EF-4 tornado cut a 5.9-mile gash across the heart of Tuscaloosa.Assembled by McConnell, the task force has been divided into two main classes — a core work group and a steering committee — that will work together to craft the zoning rules, regulations and master plans that will shape the future of the Tuscaloosa.The core work group was described by McConnell as the “work horse” of the task force and is made up of architects, developers, city officials and others. It has been divided into further sub-categories. The smaller groups and their tasks are:

Short-term recovery team: Explore options for speeding up the licensing, inspection and permitting processes while searching for ways to better inform the public about the new procedures.

Long-term planning team: Assist with a professional planning consultant who is expected to be hired at Tuesday's City Council meeting to develop long-term planning recommendations for infrastructure, land use, building design, architecture, housing and parks and public spaces.

Infrastructure subcommittee: Assess the current conditions of streets, sidewalks, streetscaping and utilities while focusing on traffic movement and congestion. The subcommittee also will explore the stability of current water and sewer infrastructure in anticipation of future construction operations and make recommendations for improving the landscape within public rights-of-way.

Land use subcommittee: Make recommendations regarding land use in the wake of the storm and suggests on new policies regarding planning, zoning, subdivisions and neighborhood preservation.

Building design/architecture subcommittee: Examine the existing and destroyed commercial and residential buildings and look for new and modern methods of construction, materials and sustainable design.

Housing subcommittee: Take stock of the housing losses and evaluate the future needs for student housing, neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing.

Parks and public spaces subcommittee: Consider options related to new parks and open spaces as well as new options for pedestrian corridors and bicycle paths. Committee also asked to consider alternative uses for public spaces, such as community gardens and recreational facilities.

Economics, finance and legal team: The purpose of this group is to examine the recommendations of the other committees within the Core Work Group and propose funding sources, economic incentives and legal advice.

Web communications and marketing team: This group is tasked with finding accessible and efficient ways to communicate the findings of the Rebuild Tuscaloosa Task Force, including the creation of a website where residents can contribute feedback and ideas as well as stay abreast of the task force's progress.The purpose of the steering committee, which is not subdivided, is to act as the “rudder” and “guiding light” for the task force by reviewing and offering feedback on the recommendations of the core work group with the intention of creating a working, feasible master plan for the affected areas of Tuscaloosa.The task force likely will meet again on June 2, and McConnell asked that each member come to the meeting with “something to bring to the table.”“We should not just rebuild,” McConnell said. “We have a chance to do this. There's no reason to maintain the status quo.“Let's do it better.”